Sunday, 16:30.
In front of the mirror, I adjusted my posture and finalized my appearance. My hands slid across the fabric of my clothes, correcting any apparent imperfections. The white shirt had no wrinkles and the sleeves were just right for my muscles. The reflection returned my attentive gaze, analyzing every aspect of my look, from my carefully groomed hair to my polished shoes and dark, crease-free pants.
I took a deep breath, making sure everything was impeccable. After all, the first impression is always the most important.
Yes, the first impression I was talking about was the one I wanted to make on my brother-in-law. I needed to look good and show that his sister's boyfriend was someone worthy, someone good enough to be by her side. I didn't want to look sloppy or unprepared in front of him.
I ran my hand through my hair once more, straightening it out of pure reflex, while a strange nervousness grew inside me.
"Oh, why am I so anxious?"
I muttered to myself, frowning.
"Seriously, what's happening to me? I'm sure I wouldn't be like this if I were meeting her father."
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. It didn't make sense. I'd never been the type of person to worry so much about formalities, and it definitely wasn't going to change now.
I closed my eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply, feeling the air fill my lungs. I held my breath for a few seconds before letting it out slowly, letting the tension dissipate little by little. A second sigh escaped, lighter, calmer.
'Hah... Much better that way.'
This ability to calm the mind so quickly has always been useful to me. Even if it didn't compare to what Ren Dover could do.
A muffled laugh escaped as I remembered him. The "Indifference of the Monarch"... that cold gaze and absolute control over his emotions. For a moment, I wished I possessed a fragment of that unshakeable serenity. But at the same time, I shuddered to imagine what it would be like to erase my own feelings.
'No... that was a bit scary, actually.'
I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection once more. The tension that had existed before was now gone. I straightened my posture once more and took a step back, assessing the final set.
"Yes, now it is."
...
CUBE PORTAL STATION
"At last, you've arrived!"
As I approached the teleportation gate, I heard someone calling. Turning my gaze to the side, I found Nayun approaching with her cheeks puffed out and her arms folded across her chest.
"You're pretty anxious, huh!"
"I was just about to pick you up."
"Sorry! I had to help an old lady cross the street."
I gave a lying excuse.
Helping a lady inside the Cube complex? It was obvious that it was a lie, but Nayun, oblivious to it, simply accepted it as if it were true.
"Oh! If that's all right."
I brought my finger close to her forehead and gave it a gentle nudge.
"There! Why did you hit me?"
She started massaging the impact site, pretending it hurt.
"There's no big reason, it just made me want to."
"Ah! You..."
The afternoon wind blew gently through the city, carrying the distant scent of flowers.
Nayun stood out as an enchanting sight in the middle of the scene. She crossed her arms, ready to complain, but hesitated when she saw my attentive gaze roaming over her entire body.
"What? What's with those eyes?"
Her voice came out slurred, and a slight blush appeared on her face.
A smile played on my lips before I answered.
"My girlfriend is very beautiful."
She blinked a few times in surprise before looking away with a grumble.
Her look was simply stunning. The slightly baggy lilac blazer created an elegant contrast with the high-waisted shorts of the same color, marking her silhouette with a touch of modern sophistication. Inside the pants, a tight black blouse gently outlined her body, highlighting her beauty even more. The black belt attached to the shorts gave a refined finishing touch, accentuating her curves without exaggeration. The daylight reflected softly off her afternoon brown hair.
Even though she was trying to keep her composure, her green eyes showed a mixture of surprise and happiness.
She also stared at me, looking me up and down.
"Minh! You're not bad yourself."
"Tsuk! Tsunderes are difficult!"
She got angry with me a few days ago because I didn't compliment her, and now, when I compliment her, she gets embarrassed.
"Hey, what did you call me?"
"I just said that we're spending too much time standing here."
"Ah! Yes, that's right. Come on, my family's driver is waiting for us on the other side."
She took my hand and started walking, apparently oblivious to the eyes of those around us.
"All right, let's go."
And I, of course, said nothing to her.
"Cadets Theo Sagan and Chae Nayun, confirmed."
We took our seal and entered the portal.
As soon as we stepped through the portal, our surroundings changed dramatically. The familiar bluish glow dissipated behind us, revealing the bustling "Yongsan" station.
Passers-by came and went, some chatting animatedly, others consulting holograms of timetables and destinations. The sound of footsteps echoed across the polished floor, mixing with the buzz of voices.
"The car is right there. We'll be at the hospital where my brother is in about 30 minutes."
She said, pointing to a black limousine with dark windows, parked a few meters away.
A man in a dark suit, probably the driver, was already waiting for us next to the vehicle.
As soon as we approached, he opened the back door without saying a word. Nayun got in first, and I followed soon after, taking a seat next to her.
The car began to move smoothly through the streets of Seoul, and the initial silence was broken by Nayun, who grabbed a drink for her and me.
"Here. It'll be a while before we arrive."
"Yes, thank you."
She smiled, relaxing a little more against the bench.
The rest of the journey passed in silence. Seoul's traffic flowed smoothly, and soon the car was parked in front of the hospital. In front of us stood the imposing white building with glass windows reflecting the afternoon light.
The driver got out first and opened the door for us. Nayun got out without hesitation, and I followed, holding her hand, which hadn't let go of mine since we left the Cube.
As soon as we entered the lobby, I looked at the sign: 'VIP LOUNGE: DAEHYUN HOSPITAL.'
The guard standing in front of the door recognized Chae Nayun and quickly let us in. But his eyes clearly couldn't understand her relationship with me, as his gaze was full of surprise when he saw us holding hands.
We walked to the outside area of the VIP wing, where a large, luxurious garden could be seen. With my extremely sensitive senses, I could notice an incredible number of hidden cameras and security devices in this place, which could easily exceed three digits.
As we walked along, we came across a doctor coming out of a room.
"Nayun-ssi...?"
He ran up to us, calling Chae Nayun's name, and their surprise was instantaneous when they saw me holding her hand. Chae Nayun scratched the back of his head and introduced us.
"He's my bo... Friend... A very good friend. Can we come in?"
I'm sure you almost missed a boyfriend there.
"Oh yes, come in."
I think the doctor must be wondering what kind of friends walk around holding hands like that.
The middle-aged doctor, with glasses and neatly combed hair, led us inside. The VIP wing of the hospital had an elegant and refined decor, as if it were a temple. As we walked down the corridor, Chae Nayun asked:
"How's his condition?"
The doctor lowered his gaze, clearly reluctant to answer.
"There's been no sign of improvement."
"I see."
We stopped in front of an escalator that led underground. Chae Jinyoon was downstairs.
"Excuse me, but he's..."
The doctor looked back and forth between Chae Nayun and me.
"Oh, that's okay. He's someone you can trust."
"Is that right?"
"Of course. I told you, he's a good friend."
With no other option, the doctor sighed resignedly.
"Then let's go straight downstairs."
...